In high school, I was introduced to jazz – real jazz performed by people like Monk Montgomery, The Jazz Crusaders, Thelonius Monk, Joe Williams, Brubeck and many others. It was Brubeck’s music with impossible time signatures that spoke loudly to a young kid who had studied piano for 12 years.

I still listen to his music, introduced my children to jazz at early ages, am and will always be awed. For me, it’s timeless.

In the late ’80’s, he appeared in Reno and I grabbed two friends to go with me to see a genius. I knew the Reno venue well, having been there to watch old friends perform, so we got backstage before the final encore ended. We met the Master, as well as his son, Chris, and for the first time in my life, I showed all symptoms of adoring fan. I got a hug and a kiss and refused to wash my face that night. I was giddy, euphoric, and fell in love all over again with a man of enormous talent and grace.